Certain areas in
this country exist where chronic diseases occur at a higher rate than
usual. For example, on Long Island in NY, there is a higher than usual
incidence of breast cancer. In Fallon, NV, childhood leukemia is above
average. In order to better understand these aberrations, Senators Hillary
Clinton (D-NY) and Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced legislation last Thursday
that would set up a national environmental health tracking system. The
system would track chronic disease on a national scale, and research
the possible causes such as the environment and behavior. Nancy Pelosi
(D-CA), Peter King (R-NY), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) and Louise Slaughter
(D-NY) have introduced companion legislation to the House of Representatives.

Thus far, states
have been in charge of setting up their own tracking systems. Since
the quality and extent of each state program varies, it is difficult
to link together each state's data in order to understand causes of
chronic diseases. The proposed nationwide network would remedy this
problem by setting minimum standards that each state system must meet.
Funding and technical assistance would be provided if needed. In addition,
data will be coordinated and compiled from across the country. This
information would be made publicly available through a national environmental
health report. If a cluster is located, the legislation provides a rapid-response
system to aid the area.